Page 156 of The Fire We Make

“Who do you belong to?”

Joy’s pulse jumped against his palm. “You.”

“Say my name,” he demanded.

“Adonis,” she breathed.

“That’s my girl.”

He slipped inside of her easily, the resistance he’d been met with their first time eased after almost two weeks of living inside her.

He moved immediately, his hips setting a pace that wasn’t frantic but urgent with impatient need and precision.

Joy’s breath caught as her body reacted, her back arching off the bed as sensation rolled through her, stronger than she expected and deeper than she was ready for.

But she didn’t pull away.

Didn’t run.

Her hands gripped him tighter. Holding him there and accepting everything he had to give her.

“Yes…” she breathed, her voice shaking.

Every nerve in her body was lit like a christmas tree, making her sensitive and breathless. Every thought was drowned out by the way he moved with her.

“Stay with me,” he murmured against her skin like a plea.

“I’m here,” she gasped. “I’m not going anywhere.”

And she meant it. There was nowhere else she’d rather be.

Joy’s nails dragged down his back as everything inside her tightened, snapped, and unraveled all at once, her body shaking beneath him as she held on for dear life.

To him

To this.

Ace followed right behind her, pumping into her, holding her there like he didn’t want to come back up for air.

For a moment, there was nothing else.

No past. No pain. No ghosts.

Just them, and their small flicker of light they’d created together in darkness. The bond they shared through things they hadn’t even voiced.

“You feel so fucking good, Rose,” he groaned against her ear. His mouth moved over her cheek, placing kisses there as his hips drove forward, pulling a cry and orgasm from her.

Ace stiffened as he followed her over the edge.

The room fell silent as their moans ceased and their heavy breaths slowed.

Ace didn’t move right away.

Didn’t rush to separate.

They stayed just as they were, chest to chest, breathing each other in.

Chapter Thirty-Six